Christian inspiration

Archive for June, 2013

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning! Happy Friday!

TFTD: Yes and Amen!

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

When I watch the news and look at the various news stories online, I can’t help but become sadden by the outcome of our legal system, our justice system, our social system and various other systems. These groups sit to make decisions that will affect the outcome of our daily lives and many make decisions with no regard to the consequences. I see that politics has caused people to sway from what’s right to what’s popular. I see how bad judgement can cause someone to become ostracized from society. I see how people are so fickle and no longer take a stand. But I’m so glad that even in spite of the ever-changing world and the people who live in it, the promises of God are always Yes and Amen!

I am here to encourage someone this morning. Man may tell you yes today and no tomorrow. Man may sign a contract today and rip it up tomorrow. Man may say you have that promotion today and take it back minutes later. That man or woman may say they love you today and hate you tomorrow. One thing that is consistent about “man” is that we are ever-changing. But I am so glad I serve a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. God is so consistent. He will never turn His back on you. The promises of God are always Yes and Amen! That is good news. Correction, that is GREAT news! You can always rely on God and it’s important to put all of your trust in Him and not in man.

The word “yes” is used as a function word to show agreement and the word “amen” is a declaration of affirmation. So when God responds “yes” to His promises He is saying He is in agreement with the promises He has placed over your life. And when He says, “amen” He is declaring to the atmosphere; both spiritual and natural that He has sealed the promise and it’s legal and binding and no man can break it. I don’t know about you, but I just felt a leap in my belly.

I encourage you to search the scriptures for the promises of God and begin shouting over His response of YES and AMEN! Man may reject you and change their mind constantly, but God will never change. I dare you to trust God. He is a faithful God. He is a righteous God!

Stand on His promises and know that His reply is always, “YES and AMEN”!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

Poetry Corner

Good morning! I pray all is well in your neck of the woods. There is a summer bug going around that hit me over the weekend, but I’m still moving on in Christ. Have a wonderful day and I pray today’s poem blesses you.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)

3 There is a time for everything,and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,a time to plant and a time to uproot,3 a time to kill and a time to heal,a time to tear down and a time to build,4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,a time to mourn and a time to dance,5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,6 a time to search and a time to give up,a time to keep and a time to throw away,7 a time to tear and a time to mend,a time to be silent and a time to speak,8 a time to love and a time to hate,a time for war and a time for peace.

Only for a season

by: Nicole Ellis

You desire to move from here to now

From less to more

From bitter to better

And the only thing that stands in your way is change

Change can prove uncomfortable at best

It challenges your way of thinking

It contradicts your next course of action

It pulls things out of you that you wish would stay dormant

Change makes people uneasy

But it’s necessary

Oh it’s so necessary

Since you desire to move from here to now

From less to more

From bitter to better

You have to endure a shifting of your mindset

Fear has to be extracted

Faith has to be increased

Determination has to skyrocket

Consistency has to become your best friend

Then you will run into the arms of discomfort

Because one has to be so uncomfortable with their current situation

They will endure the stretching to become great

I mean it’s only for a season

There is a time for everything

A time for shifting

A time for pruning

A time for pressing

A time for changing

And the only way to grow is to step outside of the box called comfort

Break the chains of complacency

And press towards your destiny

Suffering only last for a season

The struggle only last for a season

But failure will last a lifetime

If you never get up and try!

~What are you willing to do to become great? One thing that is constant is change. The world is constantly changing and as you grow spiritually you will change. There are times when God will stretch you beyond your comfort level and it’s not to harm you, but to increase your faith and trust in Him. Are you willing to go through a stretching and a pressing for a “season”? Some people hinder the growth process because they refuse to change. You have been stuck in a situation for a long time and you want to get out, but you refuse to go through the shaking, the pressing, and the beating because you are comfortable. When will you become so uncomfortable in your current situation that you will embrace the change that is necessary for you to improve in life? The discomfort of changing will only last a season, but your misery will last a lifetime if you refuse to take the first step and CHANGE!

God bless!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning! Happy Friday. I pray that your week has been a great one!

TFTD: Declaration

Isaiah 54:17(NKJV)

17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

I decree and declare that peace will follow you all the days of your life. In the name of Jesus everything the enemy has plotted against you will fail. I decree in the atmosphere that God’s grace will cover you and His favor will chase you all the days of your life. I declare in the spiritual realm that NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROSPER. With the power and authority of Jesus Christ who lives in me, I speak life into your situation. Every person who rises against you God will take care of. Every person who seeks to destroy you will become the very person who blesses you. I decree and declare that heaven will open up and pour out blessings that will fall onto you, your children and your children’s children. I decree and declare that your health will be restored, your joy will be restored, your wealth will be restored, your love will be restored in the name of Jesus. I speak great things into your life because GREATER IS COMING!!! Now walk in your purpose. Rise up and take your place in the royal priesthood. Speak with authority. Bind the enemy. Praise God for being God. This is my declaration to you! In Jesus name, the name that is ABOVE EVERY name, Jesus Christ I pray, AMEN!!!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning! Happy Tuesday to you all! I pray that each and every father had a blessed and Happy Father’s Day this past weekend. Fathers you have a great responsibility to lead by example. Your children are always watching you, even when you think they aren’t, they are. Take your role seriously and pour into your sons and daughters. I send blessings to all of the GOOD fathers!

TFTD: Comfort can be Crippling

Proverbs 6:6-11 (NIV)

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 13:4 (ESV)

4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

I started a different blog yesterday and then God silenced the thought. Sometimes God will delay a message in order to speak to the messenger. I pray this word blesses someone because it blessed me.

While getting ready for work this morning, a sweet voice whispered “Comfort can be crippling.” I let out an audible “OUCH LORD!” Immediately the words penetrated my soul and I began thinking of examples in my life where I allowed comfort to keep me crippled. The word cripple means to disable, damage or impair the functioning of. When you become too comfortable in a certain situation you can disable, damage, or impair the functioning of your calling! WOW!!!

On the surface, one may say, “Well I do want to have a comfortable life.”But I would step out to say, what price are you willing to pay for your comfort? We can become so comfortable in a toxic relationship that we disable our self-esteem and love towards others. We can become so comfortable in ministry that we damage our potential to seek a deeper relationship with Christ. We can become so comfortable in our careers that we impair the functioning of our untapped potential. Sometimes being comfortable can be crippling!

How many times have you settled because you were comfortable? Some people use comfort to keep them bound and in fear. You are so comfortable that you are terrified at changing. You dread stepping outside of the box because you like doing the minimum. You like doing just enough to get by. But when you do this you are crippling yourself. You are limiting yourself. You are depriving yourself.

It’s time to step outside of your comfort zone. God wants more of you and He can’t get you to the next level if you refuse to step out of your comfort zone. Being too comfortable can make you lazy and scripture tells us that the “sluggard craves and gets nothing…” There will be times when you will desire so much in life, but if you don’t put in the necessary work you will get nothing and live a frustrating empty life.

Comfort can be crippling! Are you ready to get uncomfortable for a season in order to experience the fullness of God? He has more in store for you! Get busy!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

Sunshine’s Reflections

Happy Friday to you all! I pray your week has went well. Remember when you can’t see God’s hand in your life, trust His grace is covering you.

TFTD: Cut the umbilical cord

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

John 17:15-18 (NIV)

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.17 Sanctify them by[a] the truth; your word is truth.18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Romans 8:9 (NKJV)

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

The umbilical cord is a natural channel which carries fluids between the developing embryo or fetus and the placenta. The umbilical cord is necessary for the developing life of a child and stays in place until after birth. Today’s message is very simple-BELIEVERS CUT THE UMBILICAL CORD TO THE WORLD!!!

Before we accept Christ, our focus is on seeking the approval and critique of the world. We need the world to validate us, we need the world to co-sign our behavior, we need the world to tell us what’s “In and Out”. We are essentially attached to the world by an umbilical cord. We look to the world to bring us all that we need to sustain life. Now once we accept Christ as our personal savior, we need to cut the cord! 2 Corinthians 5:17(NKJV) says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”It’s time to cut off the old things that were attached to our identity when we were in sin and walk in our new self-image in Christ.

Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed to the world. There are too many believers trying to make the world fit in their Christian life, when we really need to make our Christian life dictate how we conduct ourselves in the world.

John 17:15-18 tells us that we are not of this world, so why do so many believers try to make this world their home? Why are so many believers trying to fit into the world?

Romans 8:9 tells us that we are spiritual beings! This means that we are spiritual beings living in the world, much like Christ, a spiritual being, who was made flesh. Christ was in the world, but not OF the world! We are in the world, but not OF the world!So we must stop conducting ourselves as fleshly beings trying to do spiritual things and begin walking in our calling. We are spiritual beings who happen to be wrapped in flesh.

Since we are spiritual beings, it’s time to cut the umbilical cord to the world. We don’t need the world to supply us with what we should think, how we should act, what we should say, who we should hang around, how we should care for ourselves and our loved ones and the list goes on. We need to walk in our calling of the Most High. Believers-if you are wondering why you can never get ahead in life, it’s probably because you are still attached to the world. CUT THE CORD!!! God wants you to walk in your purpose.

Are you ready to cut the umbilical cord to the world?

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning! Happy Wednesday to you all! I pray your week is going well. I pray God’s safety and protection for all of the children who have graduated or who will be graduating from high school and college. I also pray for the children as they enter on summer break. May the Lord continue to keep them in His perfect peace. Get your children involved in a lot of things over the summer so they don’t become idle. An idle mind is the devils play ground. Let’s keep our kids covered this summer.

TFTD: Attitudes are contagious!

Philippians 2:1-5 (NIV)

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:14 (NIV)

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,

Much like the common cold, attitudes are contagious. In order to become sick, you have to come in contact with the person with the cold like symptoms in order to be exposed to the sickness. People can catch the common cold by air-borne germs or even physical contact to the person. A person can become sick, just from being in the same proximity of a person who is currently sick. This is also true with attitudes. One can take on the attitude and characteristics of a person just by being in contact with them for a consistent amount of time. There are even times when you can take on the attitude of someone with one interaction.

Have you ever walked into your office in a good mood and someone comes in complaining and moping and without even noticing you get sucked in and begin complaining and moping? What happened? There was a transfer of attitudes. You have “caught” someone’s attitude. As believers, we should conduct ourselves like Christ. We should take on the mindset and attitude of Christ and spread His light instead of taking on the darkness of others. We should treat others the way Christ treats us.

Imagine what would happen if everyone had a positive and loving attitude towards life? I don’t know about you, but negative people are draining and depressing. My day would go a lot smoother if I didn’t have to entertain the negative rantings of some people. Even the bible tells us to do everything without grumbling and arguing. So if you don’t want to listen to me, listen to the Word of God and stop complaining. It’s time to stop being negative.

Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth catching?

If someone caught your attitude would it make them better or worst? These are questions that you should ask yourself daily. When I walk into a room I want people to catch on fire with love, joy, peace, happiness, laughter, encouragement, and support.We should desire to spread the light and love of Christ because people need it. Be careful about what you say and how you say it. Be careful about what you post on Facebook and Twitter. Be careful because everything you put into the atmosphere is a symptom that someone can catch your attitude. Do you want the world saturated with people whose attitudes are like yours?

Have a blessed day and remember that Christ is the greatest example of humility and love. Let’s catch His attitude!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon! Happy Friday to you all! I pray that God continues to keep you all safe.

TFTD: Check your self talk

Proverbs 23:7a (NKJV)

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Raise your hand if you talk to yourself? If you are honest then your hand should be raised. I had to stop typing in order to raise my own hand (giggling). Now some of us may have audible conversations with ourselves, where I would venture out to say that majority of us have subconscious conversations with our selves. The subconscious is the unconscious part of the mind where mental activity is not directly perceived by the consciousness. This is the area from which memories, feelings, or thoughts can influence behavior without realizing it. This is the conversation that could take place while an audible conversation is actually taking place.

For example, you could be having a conversation with a person who you disagree with and in your subconscious you are telling this person off, while in reality you aren’t doing this. But if you listen to your subconscious long enough you could end up doing something out of character. That’s why it’s important to check your self talk! The bible tells us that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. If you think you are a loser then you will conduct yourself as a loser. If you think you will never succeed then you will never succeed. If you think you are a failure then you will consistently fail all because of your negative self talk.

Check your self talk. What have you said about yourself today? Have you thought you were fat, dumb, loud, angry, insignificant, or did you think you were brilliant, beautiful, handsome, or exciting? If your self talk is negative then you will begin manifesting the characteristics of a negative person. You will probably be your biggest critic and it’s important to start becoming your biggest fan. It doesn’t mean to become arrogant or conceited, but it is important to lift yourself up. The world will do a great job of tearing you down and it’s important that you can speak a word of encouragement over your mind, body and soul.

It’s a new season and a new day and it’s important to speak life into who you desire to become. Take time out of each day and check your self talk. Remember your thoughts become actions and your actions will affect who you will ultimately become.

Have a blessed day you wonderful people! Thank you for your continued support of this blog! God bless!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon! Happy “Positivity Challenge Month! I hope your day is going well. Remember to take one day at a time and spend more energy putting positive thoughts, words and actions into the atmosphere instead of negativity. Surround yourself with people who will speak life into your life.

TFTD: Stop tearing one another down-ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

1 Thessalonians 5:11(NIV)

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

The world does a pretty good job of teaching us how to belittle one another, tear each other down, gossip, bully, and the list goes on. As believers, we shouldn’t operate as the world does. We shouldn’t walk around quoting John 13:34-35 (NIV), 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” then turn around and curse our brother and sisters. We have to stop tearing one another down and start encouraging one another.

Every day people are faced with ridicule or negativity either at school, work, home, or in their community and the last place they should have to face it is in the church. The Word of God tells us to encourage one another and build each other up. Since this is Scripture, why are there so many Christians tearing other people down, why are people being mistreated or even shunned because they are different and why are people experiencing a level of hurt that they have never felt before in the church? I would venture out to say that it’s hard to encourage others when you are not filling your spirit with the things of God. It’s great to quote scriptures, but there’s more power when you can live the scriptures.

When God commanded us to love one another he knew that we couldn’t do it on our own. God knew we needed an example to follow so He sent us Christ. We have to love like Christ loves us because we are incapable of loving like that without His Spirit within us. The more you hang around Christ the more it will show in your life. It’s time to stop tearing down one another and start encouraging one another. Someone may come into your presence today and they may be ready to give up on life and how you treat them can be the deciding factor on what they do. Choose to encourage everyone you see. It’s time to share the love of Christ through encouragement.

Have a blessed day.

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon. Happy Monday to you all. I pray your weekend was a blessed one.

TFTD: Let dead things stay dead

A few of my friends decided that we would enter into a “positivity” challenge for the month of June. This is a time where we think, speak, and act positively. I know this may seem like an impossible feat for some, but it’s something that will definitely help us to grow. For the most part I would consider myself to be a positive and happy person, but then there are times when I give way to complaining and murmuring. I began to notice that these types of attitudes and behaviors stifle productivity.

I was reminded of the following scripture:

Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

This scripture tells us that we have the power to bring life or death to a situation with our words. That’s deep! Have you ever complained about a “dead” situation so much that you ended up bringing it back to life? Let me clarify, have you talked about something from your past; like a failure, a bad relationship, a tough experience, etc., so much that it felt like it was happening today? I know I have and I’ve even caught myself doing that in the present day. It’s time to let dead things stay dead. Stop resurrecting things that should be buried. It’s time to saturate the atmosphere with positive energy and to give up on meaningless destructive speech.

Romans 8:11 (NKJV) says,

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

As believers, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us and we need to stop using that power to raise up dead issues. Stop bringing up the issues of your past, stop trying to resurrect dead relationships, stop trying to speak life into your past behaviors and attitudes. We need to use the power that dwells in us to encourage the discouraged, to uplift the people with heavy hearts, to bind negativity and to speak positive things into the atmosphere. Stop misusing the power that dwells within you. Let dead things stay dead.

Romans 6:9 (NKJV) says,

9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

This scripture let’s us know that death no longer has dominion over Christ and since the same power dwells in us, death doesn’t have dominion over us. So stop allowing dead things to have dominion over you. When you allow negative thoughts to rule your mind, your speech, and your actions, you are allowing dead things to control you. Negativity breeds negativity and in turn it causes death. It causes death to your hopes and dreams. It causes death to your productivity. It causes death to your way of living and the people around you. Let dead things stay dead.

Join me in this challenge to become a more positive person. When negative things, people or thoughts come your way, turn them over to God. Don’t give life to these things or these people.

This challenge will not be easy, but it will be so rewarding if you seriously give it a try! Let dead things stay dead!

Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.